‘It’s the end of the high street as we know it’ cry shoppers as popular shoe chain closes ‘colourful’ store
It's not the only site the chain has shuttered in recent years
A POPULAR shoe chain has shut the doors on one of its city centre stores.
High street designer brand Kurt Geiger has pulled down the shutters on its shop in Brighton for the last time.
The chain, which has 76 sites in total including concessions and outlets, has closed several other shops in recent years, while also opening nine.
Shoppers have been reacting to the news of the closure on social media.
One local wrote: “Like it or not, time has moved on. Most people shop differently now.
“Rightly or Wrongly, it’s the end of ‘the high street’, as we knew it!”
Another said: “The destruction of our high streets and turning of our town centres into wastelands is gathering pace.”
A third commented: “Hope all the staff find new jobs. Lovely looking high street store.”
A fourth posted: “Blimey that long hasn’t had a re-vamp.
“Shame. The brand that does lovely stuff, annoying to have another outlet empty on the high street.”
Reviews for the shop on Google have branded the site as “colourful” and “lovely and bright”.
While others were keen to go back for their next pair of shoes.
One shopper said: “I bought a pair of beautiful leather boots in the store. I have never been so happy with a purchase. The customer care is exceptional, they are kind and understanding.
“There is no doubt that I will go back for my next pair of shoes.”
And another wrote: “Love this shop…the staff are bright, friendly and helpful.
“Really enjoy my new shoes more for the nice shopping experience.”
The Sun has reached out to Kurt Geiger for comments on this closure and will update the store when we know more.
Brighton isn’t the only city to have lost a Kurt Geiger store in the past few months.
The Newcastle branch in Eldon Square shut its doors in June last year.
Earlier in 2023, Nottingham also lost its branch in Bridlesmith Gate.
Kurt Geiger also closed its Bath’s SouthGate shopping centre shop in December 2019.
Although in 2021, the chain confirmed it was opening a total of nine new sites including concessions.
The chain was first introduced to the British high street back in 1963, opening in London’s Bond Street.
It is famed as a luxury British footwear and accessories brand.
Currently, the chain has 48 stores and a total of 28 concessions within department stores like Harrods and Fenwick.
What else is happening on the high street?
Retailers have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
The high street has seen a whole raft of closures over the past year and more are on their way.
Several major brands have also collapsed, such as Wilko and Paperchase.
Many retailers have been struggling to get by, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Energy costs have risen and more shoppers than ever are choosing to order online rather than head into stores.
This has left some retailers grappling with budgets and have no choice but to close stores to cut costs.
British retailers saw the amount of goods they sold drop last month at its fastest rate in three years as under-pressure families shifted part of their Christmas shop to earlier in the year.
Sales volumes dipped by 3.2% in December, data from the Office for National Statistics suggests, down from a rise of 1.4% a month before.
Several big-name chains are pulling down the shutters for the final time this month.
An iconic department store has also shut its flagship London store forever.
It was announced last year that Fenwick would be closing its central London store in Bond Street for good, and on February 3, it pulled down the shutters for the last time.
A Tesco Express in the Whitefriars Shopping Centre will be temporarily closed until March 4.
Lidl will be pulling the shutters down on its site in Thornaby later this month.
The bargain retailer has confirmed the sites in Stockton-on-Tees will shut on February 29.
Boots revealed it would be closing 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to evolve its brand.
High street fashion chain Peacocks pulled down the shutters of its branch in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, last month.
Entertainment retailer HMV also shuttered its branch in Boston, Lincolnshire, on January 27.
And, the hospitality sector has also been hit, seeing pubs like Wetherspoons and restaurants like Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquito shut their doors.
Meanwhile, shoppers have been left disappointed after a beloved electrical retailer announced that it will close one of its branches for good.
Plus, Wetherspoons fans were saddened after a sudden closure saw their favourite pub pull down shutters last week.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money@the-sun.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Facebook group to share your tips and stories.